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Manatee students to represent U.S. in miniature racecar design competition

The Phoenix Racing team from Manatee County schools, which designed a miniature Formula One racecar, poses in the winner's circle at the Michigan International Speedway with their trophies from a national competition: Merritt Kendzior, Johnson Middle School; Sheel Patel, Southeast High School; Joseph Komor, Southeast High School; and Aly Cote, Lakewood Ranch High School.

Published: Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 6:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 6:29 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Small but fast can be a winning combination, at least it is for four students from Manatee County schools who will represent the United States in an international miniature racecar design competition.

The Phoenix Racing team recently captured the USA Society for Automotive Engineers F1 in Schools National Championship after two days of competition at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

They also won the "Best Engineered Car" award for their design.

F1 in Schools is a global nonprofit program that uses Formula One racing as a means of encouraging students to study science, math, technology and engineering.

Students must design and build a miniature, CO2-powered balsa wood racecar.

The Phoenix Racing team's six-inch-long car shot down a 60-foot track in slightly more than a second. Team members also had to make a 10-minute presentation, do well in a 30-minute interview about their engineering and present a large display about their project.

The team from Manatee schools included: Aly Cote, team manager and a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High School; Joseph Komor, graphic designer and a sophomore at Southeast High School; Sheel Patel, design engineer and a freshman at Southeast High School; and Merritt Kendizor, a design and manufacturing engineer and an eighth grader at Johnson Middle School.

"This is a dream come true," Aly Cote said on behalf of the team. "We built this team in just five short weeks after two key members were not able to compete. We worked hours on weekends and after school to learn the F1 in Schools process to design and build our cars, portfolio and verbal presentation."

"They worked real hard," said Margi Nanney, the team's adviser.

The students next will represent the United States in the F1 in Schools World Finals to be in Austin, Texas, in November in conjunction with the Circuit of the Americas F1 Grande Prix. They will compete with design teams from more than 25 countries.

"We're going to totally redesign the car," said Cote, who wants to make sure the team stands up to what could be an even tougher challenge.

Manatee County's F1 in Schools program is based at Southeast High School's engineering department, with Nanney as advisor and Jean Cote and Brian Kendzior as co-advisors.

The team received funding and in-kind support from Two Scoops Ice Cream, the Mileo Group, JBTN Plastics, Trimbach Artistry and Rapid Prototyping Services.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - Small but fast can be a winning combination, at least it is for four students from Manatee County schools who will represent the United States in an international miniature racecar design competition.</p><p>The Phoenix Racing team recently captured the USA Society for Automotive Engineers F1 in Schools National Championship after two days of competition at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.</p><p>They also won the "Best Engineered Car" award for their design.</p><p>F1 in Schools is a global nonprofit program that uses Formula One racing as a means of encouraging students to study science, math, technology and engineering.</p><p>Students must design and build a miniature, CO2-powered balsa wood racecar.</p><p>The Phoenix Racing team's six-inch-long car shot down a 60-foot track in slightly more than a second. Team members also had to make a 10-minute presentation, do well in a 30-minute interview about their engineering and present a large display about their project.</p><p>The team from Manatee schools included: Aly Cote, team manager and a freshman at Lakewood Ranch High School; Joseph Komor, graphic designer and a sophomore at Southeast High School; Sheel Patel, design engineer and a freshman at Southeast High School; and Merritt Kendizor, a design and manufacturing engineer and an eighth grader at Johnson Middle School.</p><p>"This is a dream come true," Aly Cote said on behalf of the team. "We built this team in just five short weeks after two key members were not able to compete. We worked hours on weekends and after school to learn the F1 in Schools process to design and build our cars, portfolio and verbal presentation."</p><p>"They worked real hard," said Margi Nanney, the team's adviser.</p><p>The students next will represent the United States in the F1 in Schools World Finals to be in Austin, Texas, in November in conjunction with the Circuit of the Americas F1 Grande Prix. They will compete with design teams from more than 25 countries.</p><p>"We're going to totally redesign the car," said Cote, who wants to make sure the team stands up to what could be an even tougher challenge.</p><p>Manatee County's F1 in Schools program is based at Southeast High School's engineering department, with Nanney as advisor and Jean Cote and Brian Kendzior as co-advisors.</p><p>The team received funding and in-kind support from Two Scoops Ice Cream, the Mileo Group, JBTN Plastics, Trimbach Artistry and Rapid Prototyping Services.</p><p>They are searching for sponsors for their trip to Texas.</p>